Final answer:
Being 'on hold' during a phone call to customer service is a 'daily hassle,' which are the minor irritations of everyday life that can accumulate and lead to stress. These differ from catastrophic events, personal stressors, and significant life changes, which are other categories of stressors. Managing daily hassles is important for maintaining both physical and psychological health.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the experience of being 'on hold' during a phone call to a customer service center, it can be characterized as a type of stressor. Specifically, it is a daily hassle, which includes the minor irritations and annoyances that compile our everyday experiences, such as traffic, misplacing items, or dealing with difficult people. These daily hassles can accumulate and contribute to our overall stress levels.
In contrast to daily hassles, other forms of stressors include catastrophic events, personal stressors, and significant life changes, each varying in intensity and impact on our well-being. Catastrophic events are large-scale disasters that typically have widespread impact. Personal stressors are events or circumstances that have a significant personal emotional impact, like the death of a loved one. Significant life changes refer to major transitions in life such as marriage, moving to a new city, or changing jobs. The 'on hold' situation is a minor inconvenience compared to these, and as research suggests, it's the frequency and accumulation of these minor hassles that can adversely affect our physical and psychological health.
Efforts to mitigate the impact of daily hassles can include stress management techniques, time management, seeking social support, and adapting one's environment or routines to reduce the occurrence of such irritations. By addressing these minor yet frequent sources of stress, individuals can improve their overall well-being and potentially decrease the likelihood of related health issues.